RACER: Inside Alex Zanardi's IMSA BMW M8 GTE Hand Controls

The inspirational Alex Zanardi takes RACER inside the cockpit of his BMW M8 GTE to demonstrate the unique hand controls he'll use this weekend to vie for victory against able-bodied competitors at IMSA's Rolex 24 At Daytona.
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[@OhItsThat]

Alex is so bad ass. So happy to see him in GTLM. Love BMW for supporting him for so many years. Alex is proof racing is in the blood.

[@michalvalta5231]

4:34 "I am getting there." Five days later his team won Daytona 24... :D

[@SerPurple51]

His determination is incredible. Lost his legs, said "I can't just sit here" and kept on living his life as full as he can. I wish him a long and prosperous career and life!

[@lowprofile2412]

Good for you Alex. Giving hope to handicap people, like myself, is very inspiring !!

[@Techandall]

Looks simple enough, not sure why manufacturers are not adding this to vehicles... that would be convenient.

[@derrickgough6219]

So inspirational. This really puts things into perspective, I love his nonchalant yet realistic attitude.

[@PaddyMcQueen]

Such a great guy! Always inspiring me

[@Rampage1836]

Just watching the movements in his braking hand, relearning what he once did with his foot, translating it to hand/arm movement, its amazing. I don't have a disability like Alex, but over the last decade or so I've been making an effort to learn how to use my hands and feet in an ambidextrous manor... and I still have trouble manipulating a mouse with my left hand while my right hand is pinned under my cat.

[@geetarbube]

Snake396 😆

[@mannygarcia1810]

BMW is fantastic for allowing him to race for them and for developing such interesting controls. Hope to see him again.

[@JaredR1996]

Truly a legend. This man will forever be amazing 👏👏👏

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

I have so much respect, compassion and admiration for Alex. A much stronger person than me, he is literally amazing.

[@scullystie4389]

This guy was my favorite back in the old CART days. It just crushed me to see him have his accident but his story since has been truly inspiring.

[@Husqy44]

Some of my earliest memories of motorsport were watching Alex. My brother and I watched every major series, and we always pulled for him. Truly an inspirational light in the world. Keep fighting

[@KosmicHRTRacingTeam]

Go get them Alex!!! My favorite racer of all time, your an inspiration to so many.

[@jayoro9865]

Why isn't he more known?! This guy is huge motivation! Helped me for sure.

[@Chunkerdunkers12]

Great glimpse of what he is capable of. So incredible!! But it's late, go to sleep!

[@walterF205]

Alex needs our positive thoughts today: yesterday 19 June he had a serious accident, during a stage of a paracycling event he lost control of his handbyke in a downhill curve, invaded the opposite lane, and was hit by a truck. Come on Alex !!!

[@robertrishel3685]

Fantastic that BMW is working with him so he can continue racing. A racer who can’t is an empty shell of a man.

[@chrisnightingale6917]

"Since it's a race car, let's talk about speed" - yup, that's a racer to the core

[@WesllyOni]

You absolute legend, Alex. Thank you MP and Racer for the video, and BMW for giving Alex and the engineers the opportunity to do this.

[@andreasotto1977]

1:52 "When I step out of the car …" *flings himself on the ground* You just gotta love this guy and his passion for racing!

[@bradleyvantassal8328]

It is so awesome to see him racing. You see the way just talking about it lights up his face. I really love the comment about no longer having some of what mother nature gave him, but that did not stop him.

[@Nicoda1st]

Che persona squisita che è il grandissimo Alex Zanardi!!!

[@dickfitzwelliner2807]

I've seen slow motion video of his crash. His legs exploded. Yet here he is being the old man at the track with the same spirit and drive of a kid. Alex is a good role model

[@fabio4ever1]

Grande persona e grande pilota

[@NSXTypeRGTRLM]

Wow, what an awesome guy. The amount of work he has to put up with to race is crazy.

[@donpeek6034]

I'm glad he's back racing

[@corystansbury]

Love Alex. What a tremendous human.

[@archetypex65]

An amazing will, spirit and determination from Mr. Zanardi! I'll never forget the race at the lausitzring... it was a horrific incident it seemed surreal at the time. His accomplishments are just unbelievable in Motorsports and Olympic competition. 👍

[@antonisgaratsidis8161]

oh my god! oh my god! what a personality he is! Cant express it! One of the greatest men of all times!

[@PeeBeds]

Truly amazing. An inspiration.

[@johnnytampocao7671]

Alex is such a true racer so much heart in there, very courageous that's why I'm a big fan of him since his Indy car and F1 time. An inspiration to all racing fans around the world and technology makes him more adoring as he can still compete at such high level. AMAZING.

[@leelantern805]

way to go pinapple, I had a huge poster of you in my room as a kid and you were my favorite driver in indy car. I still watch "the pass" when I want to see one of the greatest passes of all time. someday I will own a zinardi nsx

[@smc2811]

This guy keeps surprising me all the time! The purest definition o relentlessness

[@archibaldchimpin]

He’s such an inspiration, it’s just incredible what he’s done with his life since his accident.an absolutely top bloke.

[@TMERUNNR]

I luv how Tenacious Alex is!!! Amazing to watch him at his Craft!

[@andrewlipsiner9791]

ABSOLUTE LEGEND !! #peaceontheroad

[@grahamserle7930]

What an inspirational man Alex is who is not full of self pity and is still following has passion.

[@rufirufus7]

wow, just wow. What a Champ and what a nice move from BMW.

[@000polsris000]

What a freakin boss! Fantastic attitude and outlook on the whole situation. He's definitely an inspiration to the possibilities of the human condition and the successful application of determination.

[@lth1072]

One of my heroes. Ever since his F1 days . Great guy

[@MalcolmCir]

👍Thanks for this. I'm ALWAYS happy to see Alex Zanardi competing-- especially behind the wheel. He was the most fun to watch, with the most memorable post-race interviews. Now he's the most inspiring. And he never cease to surprise me...

[@neighbor18]

Back in the newsgroup days he replied to my email! super nice guy but don't mess with him on track pure race driver. Seeing him in CART got me into F1.

[@JG-ib7xk]

Great video, thanks for this!

[@corzinc]

Keep going! This is so awesome to watch, this man is the definition of inspiration!

[@hugomelo4898]

Congrats to Marshal for producing such great interview. Very inspiring content. Alex is just an inspiration for everyone.

[@lt03.59]

This is so beautiful to see! We need more like this

[@FluppiLP]

truely inspirational to see him race at the 24h Daytona. It was great to watch.

[@freeksuout]

Inspiring! Keep pushing Alex!

[@mountcomfort740]

So inspiring!!!!! Go Alex Go!

[@yurimolotov5886]

What an absolute trooper. Nothing but respect

[@artsontop]

God Bless you Alex! Good luck to you and your team in the 24!

[@Gnrnrvids]

What a brilliant setup. Very well thought out. Awesome engineering.

[@hardtobearit]

That's the coolest thing I've seen in a long while.

Fantastic!!! A strength of nature! Inspiring! I have always been a fan of Alex and will always be!

[@matthewjohnson3910]

It's awesome to see Alex back in a race car

[@rfratelli]

This guy is a legend! Such great willpower from him and awesome technology in these controls, good luck BMW Team RLL!

[@Mortimuss]

Zanardi Rules! So great to see him at Daytona. Good luck.

[@sergiodavid5025]

Un ejemplo de superacion. Vamos Zanardi

[@Jdub14000]

Genius. Pure genius.

[@weaselman24]

Such a beautiful design. And a great driver.

[@ScottOmatic]

Zanardi's accident has turned him into an athletic freak. It's amazing what the rest of his body can do now.

[@russiaviation]

Hat off to you, Sir Zanardi !!!

[@DreamCarsPro]

Good Luck, Alex!

[@jonathan102]

What an inspiration

[@marcelomarschall]

Verdadeiro campeão! Continua na luta!

[@jameswhiteside1506]

Much respect.

[@gioacchinocatanese4701]

Grande Zanna. Sempre sul pezzo. 💪👍

[@chaseeason6789]

Impressive. I am glad he isn't letting his accident keep him out of the top levels of Motorsport. Do the other drivers change the wheel during driver change or do they keep his setup there and just use the pedals?

[@morganbrittain304]

Is Alex running a full season with BMW!?! If he is, I need to get his autograph at Road Atlanta, one of my all time favorite drivers

[@Vladi306]

God bless that man. Not a damn thing slows HIM down.

[@ericohara2582]

Brilliant Alex and Brilliant of BMW

[@darknessesdarknesses2492]

Alex-fuckin' Zanardi!! Us race fans will be telling our grandkids about him.

[@Deliverygirl]

This disabled man is a better driver than all of us without his legs. Respect!

[@wzpu3283]

Yes, all of us are without his legs.

[@Deliverygirl]

@@wzpu3283 derp

[@ParCosta]

What a LEGEND!

[@kcb9455]

Awesome!

[@user-sw2er4bv1r]

this is great

[@greekpapi]

Alex is the definition of bad ass......!!!

[@BeselerSimRacing]

Go Zanardi!! I'll be rooting for you!!!

[@erekcampbell2141]

Absolute legend Zanardi

[@davideleardi3894]

Come on Alex, win this other battle as you did with all the others...… we pray for you !

[@SFTrafficObserver]

I use to watch him back in the early 90s doing CART Series

[@matthewemmons7241]

Glad see Alex Zanardi welcome back racing again since his loss legs decade ago I saw it when was young kid. I wonder how he been now. Now he is back wow. Yes. He very professional talent race driver I ever see. Amazing do him able to drive again with technology on wheel for his hands instead floor pedals. Wonderful design for disabled or handicap person. As they as we can do it successful. Deaf can do it.

[@RovingCanada]

I don't think he stopped racing.

[@marceloabreu669]

Grande piloto... adorei as explicações ..parabéns pelo vídeo.. ganhou meu like e minha inscrição 👏👏👏👏🍀👍

[@n1k0n_]

BEAST MODE!

[@jaredward4221]

My favorite racing driver is Liam Dwyer of Mazda ST class from IMSA CTSCC ... I really hope he gets a step up to the big leagues with tech like this for braking this is incredible

[@zloychechen5150]

i like how this has 1,4k likes and only 3 dislikes. there's hope for this worlds still.

[@Everythingisgoingtobealright]

Zig zag Zanardi zooms, my favorite driver ever. I wish Michael could be out there with him.

[@candydormizzi2500]

Inspiration !

[@onomatopoeidia]

Incredible human

[@maykeganzertmk0552]

Vc merece vc é um grande guerreiro

[@luisfernandotarikian6596]

Bravo Alex 🇧🇷😉❤️

[@marcok.6734]

Resta con noi Alex, ce la farai! 💕

[@tomrainville8442]

incredible and hes over 50 years old

[@stephenbritton9297]

Nothing but awesomeness for Alex, but I would like to point out that there was a paraplegic driver in the Continental Tire series of IMSA last year - He and his teammate won a race, too! It is all awesome!

[@cupidstunt22]

Legend

[@noxvi4753]

Amazing and very inspiring. I'm interested tho when they have a driver swap does his teammate switch with a different wheel? Because it will be difficult for him to upshift and downshift.

[@SURF4LIFE84]

Back in the day best driver, he was a lunatic!

[@chickeee]

Fearless, still is

[@edmachado22]

Go champion.

[@dannyzuehlsdorf3697]

Thank you, God, for creating Alex Zanadri

[@ielmosTTR]

Fantastic. Even if i think that throttle in front of the upshift lever is an ankward position

[@chumleyk]

Yeah, you tell 'em armchair PRO